The 'strange' relationship of Brad Pitt and his six children

Brad Pitt was caught in the news of being criticized by Pax Thien, Zahara removed his father’s last name from his name, and Maddox did not respond when the actor gave him a birthday gift.

The news that Brad Pitt was criticized by his adopted son Pax Thien as a “bad and despicable person” has attracted attention in recent days. On Pagesix on November 22, a source close to Pitt said that the actor only cares about the truth and continues to remain silent.

Many people say Pax Thien is “ungrateful” and “should not speak ill of his father no matter what happens”. One part said he had the right to express his feelings if his father treated him badly. Pax Thien (birth name: Pham Quang Sang), born in 2003 in Ho Chi Minh City. In January 2007, Jolie applied for adoption in Vietnam. The actor completed the procedure to bring him back to the US in March of that year. In 2008, Pitt adopted Pax.

Brad Pitt with Angelina Jolie and children in 2011. Photo: Splash News

Besides Pax Thien, the remaining two adopted children – Maddox and Zahara – also had a broken relationship with the actor. During the star couple’s child custody dispute trial in 2021, Maddox’s eldest son once provided testimony against the actor. US Weekly’s source said that Maddox did not use the last name Pitt in the application, but only used the last name Jolie. He wanted to change his last name but his mother did not agree. According to sources at the time, Maddox did not completely hate his father but just told the truth and was happy that his father had received help and quit drinking.

Previously, the star accused her ex-husband of “strangling one child and hitting another in the face” when the couple argued on the plane. According to some newspapers, Maddox was the person beaten by the actor. He became angry with his children when they spoke up to defend their mother. Jolie said Pitt then poured beer and wine on her and her children. The FBI once investigated him for child abuse but did not prosecute him criminally. Pitt denied the accusations.

The actor carried Maddox and Angelina Jolie carried Zahara in India in 2006. Photo: AFP

According to In Touch Weekly in 2022, the actor was very sad when Maddox was cold towards him. “For my child’s 21st birthday, he gave a gift and sent a love message as a last effort to mend the relationship but received no response. Pitt really missed Maddox but encountered barriers,” the source said. This person said that when Maddox was young, father and son had a special relationship, both fatherly and intellectually connected.

Maddox was born in 2001 in an orphanage in Cambodia. He was adopted by the star at seven months old – at that time Jolie was still married to Bob Thornton. A few months later, Jolie broke up with her ex-husband and raised her children as a single mother until 2005, when she dated Pitt and the actor adopted Maddox the same year.

Brad Pitt and his children (from left): Pax Thien, Shiloh, Maddox in 2014. Photo: Film Magic

As for Zahara, on November 16, while introducing herself to the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority at Spelman University, she said she was “Zahara Marley Jolie”, removing her father’s last name from her name. Zahara was born in 2005 in Ethiopia and was adopted by Jolie and Brad Pitt at seven months old. According to People, the actor was happy and felt great about his child’s new milestone when he heard that she was going to college.

Brad Pitt is said to have a good relationship with Shiloh, his biological daughter who is now 17 years old. According to In Touch Weekly in February, Shiloh forgave her father: “She knows her father is sober and is trying his best. Shiloh wants her mother to move on and be happy.” The source added that father and son are currently working on a new movie, but Pitt and Shiloh have not confirmed it.

The actor with Zahara and Shiloh as children. Photo: Mega

He and Jolie also have twins Knox and Vivienne, born on July 12, 2008 in France. When Knox was young, Jolie said he resembled his father physically and mentally. The couple overcame difficult times while raising their children and enjoying life, Pitt likened the family to a cuckoo’s nest.

Since their divorce in 2016, Brad Pitt has rarely mentioned his children in the media and has never appeared together, Angelina Jolie alone holds custody of six children. According to GQ in 2017, the actor wished he had prioritized and spent more time with his children instead of focusing on work. Before that, he and the children often went out, but they kept quiet about their father while publicly supporting their mother.

In Psychologies magazine in 2014, the rare actor said about his children: “I care about the children more than myself – what I consider true love. At that time, I can understand myself more clearly and be more generous. Wishing the best for the family.” In 2015, Pitt told The Telegraph that sometimes, the house becomes chaotic because of many children, but he still feels very happy. For him, becoming a father is one of the most important events in life.

Brad Pitt, 60 years old, has been Hollywood’s top actor for the past three decades. According to The Numbers, the movies he starred in earned about 5 billion USD at the box office. He won many awards such as Oscar, Golden Globe, BAFTAs. Recently, he limited his acting to focus on film production. From 2000 to 2005, Pitt was married to Jennifer Aniston.